Water closets



P '1963 F. l. RAYMOND 3,102,275

' WATER CLOSETS Filed Sept. 12, 1960 f 1 g: E

INVENTOR B FRED I. RAYMOND I toilet bowl.

United States 3,102,275 WATER CLOSETS Fred I. Raymond, 459 Grove St, Glencoe, Ill. Filed Sept. 12, 1960, Ser- No. 55,515 2 Claims. c1. 4-213) special toilet bowls and flush ring constructions have been proposed in attempts to utilize water jets to achieve a suction effect. It has also been proposed to accomplish ventilation of the toilet bowl by having resort to a blower, or exhaust fan, and suitable conduits associated therewith. Additionally, special covers incorporating an exhaust fan have been associated with the water tank of the water closet.

Also, exhaust fans and related conduits structure have been mounted internally of the water tank and connected to the toilet bowl through auxiliary connections. In the latter case both the damp atmosphere within the tank and the difficulty of access to the blower have presented problems in the operation of ventilating systems of this kind. However, the primary disadvantage of the blower or fantype ventilating systems heretofore proposed has been the relative complexity of the installation as well as the specialized parts or water closet construction required. Both of these factors have contributed significantly to the overall expense, as well as the difiiculty of installation of thewater closet, and have thereby retarded wide-spread adoption of the water closet ventilating systems heretofore proposed.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to ventilate the toilet bowl of a water closet by a novel arrangement which does not require a special toilet bowl, tank cover or the like.

It is a related object to enable the ventilating structure of the present invention to be easily and readily incorsimple and inconspicuous connections for ventilating the water closet, to attach the ventilating structure to the lower wall of the flush tank, and to position the blower internally of a room wall or the like whereby a neat and attractive overall appearance is achieved in the completed installation.

In accordance with the present invention advantage is taken of the water overflow pipe, which is usually present within the flush tank of most water closets now in use, to provide a part of the conduit structure for ventilating the The overflow pipe communicates with the top part of the flush tank and is normally in direct communication with and open for the passage of air from the flush ring of the toilet bowl. A strip of felt or the like, in one form of the invention, is utilized to seal the tank cover on the water tank to prevent the flowof gases atent sageway can be resorted to as will be explained. The

bottom wall of the tank is formed with an opening of suitable size, and additional conduit structure is mounted within the opening so as to extend upwardly within the water tank and communicate with the air chamber within the upper part thereof. A blower, preferably mounted internally within a building wall as noted hereinabove, is associated with the conduit structure extending down- 3,102,275 Patented Sept. 3, 1963 wall of the water tank, if a suitable opening is not already present, and the inclusion of the additional conduit structure within the water tank. A Water closet ventilating arrangement which incorporates the foregoing structural features constitutes a further object of the present inventron.

In many instances the bottom wall of the flush or water tank is provided with an opening for receiving the water supply pipe, and this opening is somewhat oversize with respect to the external diameter of the water supply pipe. In accordance with one form of the present invention this existing opening is utilizing for the mounting of the additional conduit structure noted hereinabove. Thus, in one form of the present invention an offset fixture is mounted within the existing opening in the Water tank bottom wall and is associated with the water supply pipe in a novel manner whereby the existing opening in the bottom wall of the tank serves not only to enable the Water supply pipe to be passed therethrough but also to enable gases to be vented from the upper part of the water tank and the toilet bowl. In this form of the present invention no structural modifications of any sort are required in the existing water closet structure; and to utilize an offset fixture in a novel ventilating arrangement in the manner described is yet another object of the present invention. i

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and what is now considered to be the best mode contemplated for applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the ant without departing from the present invention andthe purview of appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view, partly broken away and partly in section, of a water closet embodying one form of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating another form of sealed passageway.

In FIG. 1, one form of the present invention is shown embodied in a water closet of an otherwise conventional construction. Thus, in FIG. 1 a Water closet is indicated generally by the reference numeral 111 and includes a floor-mounted toilet bowl 12 and a flush tank 13, which in this instance is mounted on a bathroom wall 14. The toilet bowl -12 includes a flush ring 16 which has a plurality of downwardly directed openings 17 for introducing water from the flush tank into the toilet bowl. A fitting 18 is mounted in the bottom wall 19 of the flush tank and includes an opening 21 and a valve seat 22. Thus, where ever a tank ball or stopper 23 is lifted from the position illustrated in FIG. 1 by a manually actuated linkage 24 of the usual kind, the flush ring 16 is placed in communication with the water stored in the flush tank 13.

A water supply pipe 26 extends upwardly through a second opening'27 in the bottom wall 19 of the flush tank for supplying water to the interior thereof. A ball cook event that the ball cock and float mechanism should mal- I function.

The structural features of the water closet 11 thus far described are conventional and are generally present in most water closets now in use.

In accordance with the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 advantage is taken of the oversize relationship of the opening 27 to the diameter of the water supply pipe 26 to enable the toilet bowl 12 to be vented through the overflow pipe 32 in a novel and quite simple manner. The opening 27 is conventionally one and one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter and a hub is usually utilized to mount the water supply pipe 26 in position in the opening 27. With only a few exceptions, the water supply pipe will be between five-eighths and seven-sixteenths of an inch in outside diameter.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1, an ofli'set fixture 36 is mounted in the opening rather than a conventional hub as noted hereinabove. The offset fixture includes an upper fitting 37, which is positioned within the interior of the flush tank 13, and a lower fitting 38, which depends from the bottom wall 19 of the flush tank. The upper and lower fittings 37 and 38 are formed with respective openings 39 and 41 through which the water supply pipe is passed in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1. The upper and lower fittings 37 and 38 are retained in position by nuts 42 and 43 threaded on suitable threaded portions of the outer surface of the water supply pipe 26, and a sleeve or nipple 44 maintains axial alignment of the fittings 37 and 38 with the opening 27. A standpipe 46 is mounted within the upper fitting 37 and projects upwardly and into the chamber 47 defined between the upper surface 31 of the water and the flush tank and the tank cover 48 and to a height above that of overflow pipe 32.

In this instance a strip of felt or like sealing fabric 49 is utilized as a seal between the tank cover and the side walls of the tank to prevent the flow of gases therebetween. Preferably, the strip of sealing material is glued either to the top edge of the side walls of the tank or the corresponding shoulder of the tank cover.

Conduit structure 51 of any suitable kind is connected to the lower fitting 38 and extended into the wall 14. A fan or blower 52 is mounted within the wall 14 with its inlet connected to the conduit 51. The outlet of the fan 52 may be connected through other suitable conduit structures as 53 to a space below the floor, to the outdoors, or to any other suitable exhaust area. The fan 52 is rotated by a motor 54 under the control of a switch 56. In this instance a manually actuated switch mounted closely adjacent the water closet 11 is utilized. While the manually actuated switch 56 as illustrated is preferred for simplicity of installation and operation and is quite adequate to control the ventilation of the water closet 11, any other suitable or automatically operated switch arrangement can be utilized if desired.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the overflow pipe 32 and fitting 18 afford first conduit means normally open for the free passage of gases therethrough for communicatin g the chamber 47 with the toilet bowl 12 through the flush ring 16 and openings 17. The standpipe 46 and offset fixture 36 afford second conduit means which are at all times open for the passage of gases from the chamber 47 to the conduit 51. Thus, whenever the motor 54 is energized to rotate the blower or fan 52, ventilation of the water closet 11 and removal of gases from the toilet bowl 12 is effectively achieved and without any interference to normal flushing operation of the water closet 11. In the event that the tank ball or stopper 23 should be raised during the time that the motor 54 is thus energized, a slightly sub-atmospheric pressure will prevail in the chamber 47, but this will in no way interfere with the flushing of the water closet 11 so that when the tank ball or stopper is returned to a seated position in the valve seat 22, the fixture 18 is again open for the passage of gases therethrough, and ventilation of the toilet bowl 12 is resumed. I

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 it is important to note that no alteration or modification whatsoever of the standard water closet bowl, tank or cover is required to embody the ventilating arrangement of the present invention. Thus, while the special fixture 36 is advantageously utilized in association with the existing opening 27, this is the only special structure that is required and merely involves the substitution of a different fixture for or instead of the conventional ball cock fixture. Moreover, the offset fixture 36 may be incorporated in the water closet 11 either at the time of initial installation of the water closet or at any time subsequent thereto with a minimum of time and effort. Additionally, the overall installation is neat in appearance and inconspicuous inasmuch as the conduit structure is associated with only the underside of the flush tank 13.

It will be recognized from the foregoing that by sealing the top of the tank, such in effect affords a sealed passageway for the educted gases from the free end of the overflow pipe to the free end of the pipe or tube that is in direct communication with the blower, However, referring to FIG. 2, which is somewhat schematic, a passageway can also be afforded by having resort to an inverted U -tube 70 having the open ends thereof respectively telescoped over the upper end of the standpipe 46 and the upper end of the overflow pipe 32. This telescoped relationship prevails below the water level in the tank, and hence an effective seal is maintained.

It will be appreciated that the present invention is also applicable to water closets wherein the overflow pipe is separately communicated with the flush ring rather than through the fittings as 18 and 18A. Thus, the present invention can be used with water closets wherein the flush ring at one end is connected to a flush fitting and wherein the overflow pipe is connected to the flush ring at another point. The present invention is also applicable to those water closets which have a standpipe movable with the float. In other words, the essential requirement is that there be present an overflow pipe in communication with the bowl at one end and capable at the other or upper end of being connected to the exhaust conduit that is in communication with the blower.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, ventilation for the toilet bowl of the water closet is afforded by a novel arrangement which can be easily and readily incorporated in installations of the kind now commonly in use, and no special toilet bowls, tank covers, or the like are required. Furthermore, simple and inconspicuous connections are so located as to achieve a neat and attractive appearance. The ventilating arrangement of the present invention can be incorporated in the water closet either at the time of initial installation of the water closet or at any time subsequent thereto, and in any event only simple and inexpensive parts are required.

Hence, while I have illustrated and "described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but :desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a water closet of the kind adapted to be flushed by water contained in a reservoir and comprising a toilet bowl having a flushing ring, a tank affording the reservoir for the water and including a bottom wall and side walls, said bottom wall having first and second openings formed therein, first conduit means for communicating the reservoir of water with the flushing ring and extending through the first opening, said first conduit means including an overflow pipe in communication with the upper part of the tank above the water level of the reservoir, 2. water supply pipe for supplying water to the tank and extending upwardly through the second opening, second conduit means mounted within the second opening affording a sealed ventilating system and including 1) a portion encircling the water supply pipe where the water supply pipe extends through said second opening and upwardly through said second conduit means, (2) another portion connected to and ofiset from the first portion above said second opening and (3) stand pipe means in communication with said other portion of the second conduit means and extending upwardly within said tank to terminate at a point considerably above the upper end of said overflow pipe, said second conduit means having a portion extending below the bottom wall of the tank enabling a vacuum blower to be attached thereto to establish vacuum in said stand pipe means and presenting an opening through which said water supply pipe extends through said second conduit means, and means afiording a sealed passagewbetween the upper end of said stand pipe means and the upper end of said overflow pipe to enable the vacuum in said stand pipe means to be communicated to said overflow pipe and firom thence to said and the overflow pipe below the normal, full water level 0d the tank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,887,498 Connors Nov. 15, 1932 2,105,794 Norris Ian. 18, 1938 2,126,131 Orebaugh Aug. 9, 1938 2,279,789 Jentzer Apr. 14, 1942 2,297,935 Baither Oct. 6, 1942 1 2,657,703 Bletcher Q Nov. 3, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 543,347 Belgium- Dec. 30, 1955 

1. IN A WATER CLOSET OF THE KIND ADAPTED TO BE FLUSHED BY WATER CONTAINED IN A RESERVOIR AND COMPRISING A TOILET BOWL HAVING A FLUSHING RING, A TANK AFFORDING THE RESERVOIR FOR THE WATER AND INCLUDING A BOTTOM WALL AND SIDE WALLS, SAID BOTTOM WALL HAVING FIRST AND SECOND OPENINGS FORMED THEREIN, FIRST CONDUIT MEANS FOR COMMUNICATING THE RESERVOIR OF WATER WITH THE FLUSHING RING AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE FIRST OPENING, SAID FIRST CONDUIT MEANS INLCUDING AN OVERFLOW PIPE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE UPPER PART OF THE TANK ABOVE THE WATER LEVEL OF THE RESERVOIR, A WATER SUPPLY PIPE FOR SUPPLYING WATER TO THE TANK AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THROUGH THE SECOND OPENING, SECOND CONDUIT MEANS MOUNTED WITHIN THE SECOND OPENING AFFORDING A SEALED VENTILATING SYSTEM AND INCLUDING (1) A PORTION ENCIRCLING THE WATER SUPPLY PIPE WHERE THE WATER SUPPLY PIPE EXTENDS THROUGH SAID SECOND OPENING AND UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID SECOND CONDUIT MEANS, (2) ANOTHER PORTION CONNECTED TO AND OFFSET FROM THE FIRST PORTION ABOVE SAID SECOND OPENING AND (3) STAND PIPE MEANS IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID OTHER PORTION OF THE SECOND CONDUIT MEANS AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY WITHIN SAID TANK TO TERMINATE AT A POINT CONSIDERABLY ABOVE THE UPPER END OF SAID OVERFLOW PIPE, SAID SECOND CONDUIT MEANS HAVING A PORTION EXTENDING BELOW THE BOTTOM WALL OF THE TANK ENABLING A VACUUM BLOWER TO BE ATTACHED THERETO TO ESTABLISH VACUUM IN SAID STAND PIPE MEANS AND PRESENTING AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH SAID WATER SUPPLY PIPE EXTENDS THROUGH SAID SECOND CONDUIT MEANS, AND MEANS AFFORDING A SEALED PASSAGE BETWEEN THE UPPER END OF SAID STAND PIPE MEANS AND THE UPPER END OF SAID OVERFLOW PIPE TO ENABLE THE VACUUM IN SAID STAND PIPE MEANS TO BE COMMUNICATED TO SAID OVERFLOW PIPE AND FROM THENCE TO SAID FLUSH RING IN THE NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION OF THE WATER CLOSET. 